Spock's Brain & the Logic of Laughter

It was the best of episodes, it was the worst of episodes.

I’m referring, of course, to the famous, infamous, uncreatively titled episode of the original Star Trek series: Spock’s Brain.

The basic premise of the episode is that an alien woman comes onto the Enterprise, removes Spock’s brain from his body, and returns to the planet below. Jim, Bones, Scotty and co. must beam down to find Spock’s brain and restore their pointed-eared colleague.

Having written out the plot, I can’t try to hide the fact that it’s a completely ridiculous episode. It is, and that’s why I love it.

Based on my scan of IMDB reviews, however, many so-called Star Trek fans begged to differ. They said in no uncertain terms that Spock’s Brain was the worst episode of the show.

I say “so-called” fans because based on this and other IMDB ratings for other episodes, most Star Trek fans don’t actually like the show.

I think they’re watching for all the wrong reasons.

I love Spock’s Brain for the reason I love the series as a whole. It doesn’t take itself seriously. It takes a break from drama and deep meaning to go on a silly adventure. For me, sci-fi is escapism, and I’m not afraid to admit it. When it gives flashes of insight into the real world—which it often does—that’s the icing on the cake. Or should I say, the cheese on the moon.

I’m not going to say Spock’s Brain is my favorite episode. There are a few more serious ones I really enjoyed. But, that doesn’t mean I love this goofy installment any less. I laughed all the way through the episode and for a good ten minutes straight after it was over.

It’s even funnier because it isn’t presented as a comedy. At first, you think it’s just another sci-fi episode, but it keeps escalating into more outlandish situations and contradictions. If the writers didn’t mean it to be funny, that’s too bad. They struck comedy gold without knowing it.

This leads well into why I love old sci-fi in general.

I think humor is the special sauce of sci-fi. Honestly, I think it’s the special sauce of everything, but I’m trying to stay on topic here. All my favorites in this genre can be hilarious at times. Whether it’s a one liner, a scene, or a whole lighthearted episode, any space saga could stand a few laughs.

Maybe it’s because I realize deep down that the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. Flying at warp speed with chess-playing aliens, going back in time in a blue phone box, saving the galaxy with a laser sword, a snobby droid, and something that kind of looks like bigfoot. None of it can be taken completely seriously.  Maybe the jokes are to give us something to giggle at other than the low-budget special effects.

As viewers, we feel comfortable not taking old sci-fi seriously because it doesn’t take itself seriously. When I see movie and TV show ads these days, all the premises seem just as ridiculous as anything that came out of the 60s or 70s. The difference is, their creators seem to treat everything very gravely. They’d balk as much as a snobby Star Trek fan at episodes like Spock’s Brain.

Modern times laugh at the old days, forgetting that they’re what paved the way for us.

If you’re not a fan of old sci-fi, that doesn’t bother me one bit. It’s pretty darn cheesy. That’s my favorite part, but I’m a big supporter of personal taste. If you prefer dramas, sitcoms, documentaries, cooking shows—maybe even soap operas, but don’t push your luck—that’s your choice.

It’s the people who claim to be fans and then complain about the silliness that bother me. My dad got me into sci-fi, and my favorite part is laughing together at the low budget effects. It never got in the way of our appreciation of the less-cheesy aspects of the shows.

In the grand scheme of life, the hour you spend watching any kind of TV episode could be considered “wasted.” So why worry so much about how you waste it?

If the episode is exciting, perch on the edge of your seat.

If it’s deep, sit in quiet reflection as the credits roll.

If it’s touching, shed a tear.

And if it’s funny, well, it’s only logical to laugh.